FIFTH REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I908 



47 



The group of black bear has been received, but will not be dis- 

 played until such accessories have been added as seem desirable 

 to make the scene as attractive as possible. 



Three more bird groups have been put on exhibition. One shows 

 a sora rail with nest and young; the other two are winter scenes, 

 the first made up of three snow buntings and the other of Canadian 

 nuthatches and American goldfinches in their winter plumage. 



The taxidermist is at present constructing, in addition to the 

 above mentioned fish group, a group of mink and one of white- 

 footed mice. These should all be ready for exhibition by the spring. 



Birds of New York. In 1844 this State published as one of the 

 volumes of the Natural History of New York a comprehensive and 

 finely illustrated treatise on the birds of the State, prepared by the 

 eminent ornithologist, James E. De Kay. Since its date of issue 

 this work has been of fundamental value to all students of the 

 birds and may justly be regarded as, in a large degree, the primary 

 inspiration of the present widespread interest among the people of 

 the State in the science of ornithology. 



In 1904, 60 years from its publication, I urgently recommended 

 to the Commissioner of Education that a restudy of this field was 

 desirable in order to bring together increments to knowledge dur- 

 ing the long period which had elapsed without interest therein on 

 the part of the State and to meet the very general and lively con- 

 cern in the subject among our citizens. 



Consequent on the approval of this recommendation the prepara- 

 tion of a monographic treatment of the subject was assigned to 

 Prof. E. Howard Eaton. The undertaking was a large one, in- 

 volving great labor, accurate knowledge and painstaking devotion. 

 But it has now been carried so far that the conclusion of the work, 

 is in sight and the first of the two quarto volumes is about to be 

 delivered from the press. This volume 1 will carry something over 

 300 pages and 42 plates in color with various distribution tables and 

 numerous cuts. 



A synopsis of the first volume is here appended : 



TURDS OF XEW VORK. 



VOLUME I 



Preface 



Illustrator's note 



Summary of the New York State 



T 1 1 Transients 



TV Winter visitants 



V Summer visitants 



A vi fauna 



I Residents 



VI Accidental visitants 



II Summer residents 



Life /ones in New York State 



